New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-10
KATE SEYMOUR.
THE STORY OF A WEDDING DAY.
BY w. IL. STACPoOLE,
PART I-CoNCLUDED.

gciOusneSS but at last she was aole W 20 up w
her bedroom, followed by Mrs. O'Phelan, who was
profusc in her apologies as she was very mueh
frightened at what had happened.
The daylight had found its way into her ped
room before she was awakened with start by
the nostmans rattat at the hall door, IastiV
throwing ON her dressing gown she ran downstairs
There letter. but 1T was addressed 10
Mrs O'Il.elan So she went back TO her room and
sat down to think
He might have written, and he would have
written she felt sure unless he was very FAR
away too far to be with her by IL o'clock. what
did it mean? The telegram was very curt 1ele-
grams are necessarily so but still, he might have
contrived to say q little more IL he wished. She
took the telegram from under her pillow where She
had put it before she had got into bed, and read
it again:
Have to leave town on int ortant business
Cannot be with you at o'clock
What was the important businessp And why
had he not either tclcgraphed written to say at
what hour he would be with her? Every minute
was of importance now. Either he was, or he was
not in London. If he were it was strange that
he was not at the house already.
he And by what train could he reach London
so as to be at the mouse in time to get to the
church before IL for they had arranged TO
go with Mrs. O'Phclan to ST. Marys Church,
where the marriage was to take lace.
AS she sat meditating and weighing the pros
that surprised herself she saw hanging from
rack on the wall the plain gray SILK dress In
which she had intended to be married. For
moment the tears came to her eyes But they
dried as quickly as they came. hard, stern eA-
preston came over her cOuntenance. She took the
dress down and examined it in stony, mechanical
way shook it out and held it before her, gazing
at it with strange, bitter smile and muttered
to herself as she restored it to its Lace:
If the worst comes to the worst, you VIII DO
to wear when l drown myself.
When she had nearly completed her toilet she
put on a dressing wrapper and left the wedding
dress hanging in its place, intending only TO
assume 1t if Mr.. oldham should come, which he
did not They waited until quarter to IL,
when Mrs. UPheian drove to the church TO inform
the clergyman that the marriage must he post
roncd While she was away Kate packed up
nearly all her things. Her week would expire on
the following Monday evening. and, If she did not
see or hear from Mr.. Oldham by that tlme she
determined to try if she could not make her own
way in the world When Mrs. O'ihean came
back she was surprised at the calm and apparently
Indifferent manner in which Miss Seymour said
that she would have to take humber lodgings
and try to get EN- ]oyment, If Mr.. Imam dld
not return during the week With all her quick
ness of temper Mrs. O'phelan was a knd-hearted
woman She was angry at what she regarded as
a despicable fraud upon both herself and Miss
Seymour but she could not he'll plying the poor
girls utterly friendless state.
Don't trouble yourself about the rooms she
said; Its Mr.. oldham, and not you, that's
responsible for them so you are welcome to stay
as long as you please He's safe TO come back
some day. God grant for your sake, it VIII be
soon l have no doubt about his paying me In
the end But il l never saw him again IT does
not matter. You shant want a shelter as long
as 1 can give you one. And as 10 your getting
employment, take my word it is easier said than
DONE
Il am very thankful to you, dear Mrs.
OPhelan, said Kate, who was completely soitened
by this speech Do not think that am ungrateiul
If | cannot find words to thank you. But have
made up my mind day or two Will tell
whether he has deserted me or not and if he has
do YOU think that would accept so much as
crust of bread at his hands No; my mind is
made up. / am not exactly the kind of woman
that hangs uTon man who doesn't want her.
The last sentence was 81 oxen in a tone in which,
albeit calm, there was concentrated passion and
contempt which made Mrs O1helan rather AFRAID
of the imperious girl who uttered it.
"Weli we'll she said, "we must not be too
hasty in Judging him. What do you say if we go
10 the albany TO see if he has left any word as to
where he has gone p
Il follow Mr.. Oldham to his chambers if he
does not think Proper to communicate with me
exclaimed Kate in astonishment.
Faith, if he has followed you to your home
and taken you away from it, think you have a
right to-" said Mrs. O'phelan Right is right.
I'd be the last to ask you TO do anything that
wasn't becoming but you're clearly within your
right here
Il dare say SHOULD be, replied Miss Seymour.
but could not do it. l can't tell you why,
hut could not. Don't speak to me about it,
dear Mrs. O'Phelan; it makes me sick.
Il won't say anything more said Mrs
Olhelan, except that admire your spirit and
hore he's worthy of it. But there can't be any
harm in my going myself to ask about him. Pm
sure Miss Seymour you know it's not that Pm
thinking about money. But it's so strange his
going away at such time and saying so little.
Where you might not like 10 20, can go and ask
about him as q matter Of course, without your
name appearing at all
IL don't care whether my name appears or not
But if you 60 it must be your own account
and not from me. You must promise me that
Certainly III start at once, then, and III
be back as soon as can.
In about three hours she returned, looking very
grave. Mr.. Oldham had given up his chambers
in the Albany and had taken all his luggage
away with him. The furniture was to be sold
by auction IL the incoming tenant did not require
IT, and the proceeds paid to Mr. Eversfcid, solicitor,
of Bedford Row. This all she could learn
mt the Albany, so she went TO see Mr. Diversified.
He received her very politely and said that Mr..
Oldham had called on him that morning and
instructed him to dispose OF the furniture in his
chambers and TO pay any debts OF his that might
be due Mr.. Oldham had left for the Continent,
md he Mr. Evcrsieldj did not know where he
had gone and did not expect to hear from him
for some weeks. lie added that he had been
authorized by Mr.. Oldham to give Miss Seymour
one hundred pounds as compensation for her
trouble in coming to London.
Such was, very briefly, the information Mrs
O'Phalen had to communicate Kate listened
very quietly until the hundred pounds compen-
sation was mentioned. Then she started from
her seat, and exclaimed in voice that trembled
with passion:
"He might have spared me that insult at least!
For some minutes she wasso much agitated that
Mrs. OPhelan did not attempt to speak TO her,
At length. yhen the good woman was about to
"a recital which was plentifully interpreted
with such comments and interect,ona % her In
digDation suagested-Aiss Seymour said n very